Simple shoring to form ditches-canals-pillars and posts

ABSTRACT

An adjustable trench showing device is disclosed wherein the separable side and endwalls are formed as modules with releasable attaching means whereby the device may be formed of varying lengths vertically and horizontally.

1111 3,750,410 1 1 Aug. 7, 1973 United States Patent 11 1 Converse Wicke....

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS SIMPLE SHORING TO FORM 1,794,704 3 1931 DlTCllES-CANALS-PILLARS AND POSTS 2,865,178 12I1958 [76] Inventor:

Helena M. Converse, 808 S. Hobart Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90005 Feb. 17, 1970 [211 App]. No.: 886,049

l/l94l Great Britain...................... 61/41 A [22] Filed:

Primary Examiner-Jacob Shapiro 61/41 A, 52/582, 52/584 [51] Int.

[57] ABSTRACT An adjustable trench showing device is disclosed [52] U.S. E211! 5/00, E02d 5/02 [58] Field oi Senrch........................ 61/41 A. 41, 63;

wherein the separable side and endwalls are formed an modules with releasable attaching means whereby the device may be formed of varying length! vertically and horizontally.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 640,377 1/1900 Haentges 61/41 A 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SIMPLE SIIORING TO FORM DITCIIES-CANALS-PILLARS AND POSTS This invention relates to the best and safest means and methods for forming ditches-canals-underground tunnels-pillars and posts, and has for its object to accomplish such operations QUIETLY" in that noisy operations, such as pile driving, is unnecessary, the noise, and the DANGER" of CAVE-INS is eliminated throughout the entire operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide the best means and method, in which the frames are retained in small easily handles sizes, and are used in adjoining secitons both vertically and longitudinally, yet enable the provision of ditches, etc., varying greatly in depth and length, even more than many hundreds of feet.

This invention is designed to adapt itself to the most hazardous of soil, such as the shifting sands of the desert, and moving objects of all kinds, even the seepage of water.

This invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected, economical of manufacture, Simple and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprisesnovel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the descriptions, which is based on the accompanying drawings and illustrations herein, following:

FIG. 1 is a combined unit three layers high of all the componentparts, using the coupling pin, which connects the side frames together lengthwise.

FIG. 2 is a perspective side frame piece, showing hollow tubes at the center and at each end of the frame, which is used with the coupling pin, with snap locks shown FIG. 3 is also a side frame with full length hollow tubes welded thereon, in center, and at each end is a tongue and a groove hollow tube welded thereto to be used to lock the side frames together, as a tongue and groove connecting method longitudinally instead of the coupling pin.

FIG. 4 is a stacking arrangement using the Tongue and Groove connecting method and showing the spikes of the upper layers which are welded inside of the hollow tubes half-way up, and which fit into the hollow tubes on the first layer of the frames.

FIG. 5 shows the tongue and groove interlocking means of a pair of longitudinally adjacent side wall sections.

FIG. 6 is a sliced-spreader as used to space the side walls apart, to keep them from collapsing.

HOW TO MAKE THE SHORING FRAME BOTTOM LAYER A frame of any size required for the job at hand is formed into a flat slab any thickness desired from any material desired to be used.

It is best made of steel, but iron, copper, tin, wood, aluminum, plastic or any one of the composition materials can be used.

FOR EXAMPLE Theend frame 8 is bolted to a side frame 9 on the right side of the end frame piece 8 and the frame I0 is bolted to the left side of end frame 8 each side frame 9 has a wing on one end, and each side frame I0 has a wing on one end. The two side frames 9 and 10 bolted to end 8 forms an open end boxlike frame. See FIG. 2. On the end frame 8 and side frame 9 and 10 are welded hollow tubes ll, 17 and 18.

Some hollow tubes are full length tubes 11, and some can be used short as the tubes 17 and 18, as is shown on stacking arrangement in FIG. I and FIG. 4. Across the top of each frame 8, 9 and I0 a small tongue is formed 21 and 22, and the same on frame 25, that extends the full length of each frame and down the righ side of the frames 9 and 25 but, the tongue is formed across the top of frame 10 and down the left side of frame 10 to make the end frames correspond for connections lengthwise, when the next frame 25 is attached, each side frame such as 25, etc., have the small tongue 22 formed at the top and down the right side full length and height Tongue 21 is formed on frame 8 side frames 9 and 25 and all other frames made for the extension to elongate or heighten; the box frame is made the same way for the right side of the box frame,

and visa versa for the left side of the box frame at the left end of frame 25 a groove is formed to fit over the tongue of frame 9, etc. This tongue and groove is formed on the frames to make the frames more sand and waterproof, when working in any hazardous soils.

On FIG. 4 the stacking arrangement is used a tongue and groove connection method for connecting the frame for elongation of frames. See Tongue and Groove connecting method, FIG. 4, showing the frames connected with the Tongue and Groove method, 13 and I5, See FIG. I for the short tubes 17 and 18, which are connected together with the Coupling Pin 20, See Detail A, these hollow tubes 17 and I8 can be made full height of theframe if desired. I beleive it would make for a more steady and stronger connection. See FIG. 1, inside of each frame a cuplike Socket 1 6 is welded therein one inch below the top of frame. At the right end of the frame 9 and at the left end of frame I0, into this socket a Sliced-spreader 19 is fastened. See Detail D. This spreader holds the side frames apart from side to side preventing them from collapsing, onto the lower frames a catch 24 for the snap lock 16 is welded. See FIG. I and the same is had on all frames thereafter for stacking the frames, which spring lock 16 catch fastens over the catch 24 to fasten the frames together in a stacking position from the height to the lower frames SECOND LAYER, arc.

The end frame 8 is made the same as the lower frame, but the side frame 9 is one-half the length of the lower frame 9, this throws the upper frame 9 end at about the center of the lower frame 9 which forms an alternating stack 1 short, I long. See FIG. I and stacking arrangement. FIG. I only one hollow tube is welded to this short side frame See frame 9A and the same is had on both the right and left sides of the frame but the frame connected lengthwise on to frame 9A is made a full size frame as in the lower frame and so on the same for the left side of the frame, and the second layer has the Spikes I2 welded into the hollow tubes, that fit into the top of the hollow tubes, welded to the bottom frame.

The Coupling Pin 20 is the same as the lower frame connection, the cuplike sockets 14 are the same and the connecting frame 25 is made the same as the lower frame25, the same lock catch 24 is had and the snap lock 16 is the same end piece 8 is made the same way,

bolted to two side pieces, as is the lower frame, except Spikes 12 are welded inside of the Hollow Tubes 11 about half way up the tube 11 leaving the upper part of the hollow tube for the Spike to fit in from the second and third layer and so on. These Spikes l2 fitting into the hollow tubes makes for a stronger wall frame, the locks snap closed to hold the upper and lower frames together perpendicular. Stacking arrangements for said locks the Sliced-spreader is used the same on all layers of the frame the slice in the Spreader fits over the inner edge of the inner cup Socket 14 which holds the Spreader 19 in place, while the digging is had, it holds fast if the frame is jostled about from level to level during said digging.

All parts are dipped into an oily wax and allowed to dry before using them. This has a tendency to make the frame more sand and waterproof and also keeps the metal from rusting or corroding.

It has been my endeavor to make here a strong shoring frame that will withstand all hazardous soils and to prevent cave-ins and save the lives and limbs of the men at work on the job.

When there are no accidents there is no time lost on the job, and no time is lost if there is nothing to build, or do on the job, but digging the ditch or canal or stacking for the pillars or posts. All preparation is made prior thereto, I believe this shoring frame is the single safest on the market today. It costs very little to build or manufacture (I because it is so simple (2) and can be used over and over again since it is made in small easily handled pieces it can be easily stored away for future jobs once bought and paid for, it is forever paid for. It may be that there would be an occasional piece to be repaired. There would be'no noise, no pile driving, economical and I believe foolproof.

The inside of the frame is purposely kept smooth so any kind of conduits or cement work pipes or what have you can be laid, without interference.

A ditch or canal or pillar or post can be filled in before the frame is removed. This insures safety, and any resultant space from the frame can be filled in after the same is removed without hazardous cave-ins.

While the foregoing has illustrated and described the making and using of the frame what is now contemplated to be the best mode of carrying out the invention, the construction is subject to modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For instance the small tongue and groove at the top and sides of all frames can be abandoned if the frame is to be used in less hazardous soils if no sand or water is present. But if the job is restricted to loose sand and water it should be used with said tongue and groove, etc., as described herein.

This box frame can be used to build tall pillars for buildings-pillars for bridges and posts by stacking one on top of the other locking the boxes together with the snap locks, using the tongue 21 and groove 22 method at the top and the groove at the bottom of each box frame to make it sand and waterproof, it can be easily disassembled to use again by either lifting the box frame apart from the top or unbolting 27 the end 8 lifting them off leaving a smooth pier or pillar and the box frame could be used over and over again.

There is a certain practical way of making and using said frame pieces, but modifications may be had. Basically the construction illustrated is to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

NOW THAT THE FRAME HAS BEEN FORMED INTO ITS SEVERAL PARTS, IT IS READY TO USE 1. Set the box-like frame, with one end left open upon top of the ground" when a ditch is to be dug, to this open end box-like frame, connect a side frame on both sides of this open end box 9-10, using the long looped Coupling Pin to connect the side frames together, matching the tongue on the top of the box-like frame. Plan 2 and the groove on the connecting frame Plan 3. Or you may want to use the tongue and groove method as shown in FIG. 5A to connect the frames. See Tongue and Groove Connecting Method Plan 4, for the length of the ditch on the first layer frame, connect on as few or as many as is desired for the length of the excavation, each time a frame is used, the small tongue and groove 21 22 there on top and sides and bottom of each frame, they must match and fit together when connected, then place the Sliced-Spreader into the cup-like Sockets 14 provided on the inside of the frame, See FIG. 5, and form Plans 1 and 2 for small tongue and groove.

NOW YOU ARE READY TO DIG THE DITCH Digging out from under the frame on the inside of the frame in the ditch, lowering the frame into the ditch as it is dug, this frame secures the ditch walls and prevents cave-ins. When the ditch is dug to about the depth of one foot from the top of the first layer of the frame it is now time to add to the height of the frame in the ditch by adding on the end frame piece that is one-half the length of the lower end frame. See FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. Setting it on top of the first layer of frames, matching the small tongue and groove that is on the top of the lower first layer of the end frame, and matching the groove to it, that is on the bottom of the second layer frame, now being added onto the lower frame and setting the Spikes 12 into the Hollow Tubes 11 provided on the lower frame, then Snap Lock 24 and 16 to hold the top and bottom frame together. Add to the length of the second layer in the same manner, matching all spikes on the side frames into the Hollow Tubes and all tongue and grooves, each time a frame is added, new again use the Sliced-Spreader 19 in the same manner at each frame joint connection, this will hold the frames more solid and steady, so it will not slide out if the ditch frames bounced around while the digging of the ditch is being done, at the different levels of the ditch, in this way a ditch can be dug as deep as desired, or to a hundred feet or more, and the sides of the ditch will remain secured against "Cave-ins" and the danger of injury to the worker will be nil.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed to be secured by letters patent is:

I. A trench shoring structure comprising a pair of spaced opposing outer side walls and an end wall interconnecting said side walls, each of said side walls having a slotted portion extending along one end thereof and a cooperating tongue member on the opposite end whereby like walls may be interconnected;

said side walls having tongues on the ends thereof cooperatively received in the slotted portions of the interconnected side walls;

socket elements connected to the inner sides of the opposing side walls and spreader elements having member for insertion into an adjacently disposed tubular member on a vertically interconnected side wall whereby vertically adjacent side walls may be interconnected.

3. The structure of claim I further including snap fastener elements on the upper and lower edges of said side walls whereby vertically adjacent members may be interconnected.

* Ill II t i 

1. A trench shoring structure comprising a pair of spaced opposing outer side walls and an end wall interconnecting said side walls, each of said side walls having a slotted portion extending along one end thereof and a cooperating tongue member on the opposite end whereby like walls may be interconnected; said side walls having tongues on the ends thereof cooperatively received in the slotted portions of the interconnected side walls; socket elements connected to the inner sides of the opposing side walls and spreader elements having ends received in opposing pairs of socket elements to thereby brace said shoring structure; said side walls having tubular members on the outer sides thereof and elongated, inverted U-shaped coupling pins for reception in the tubular members of adjacent side walls to thereby interconnect same.
 2. The structure of claim 1 further including spike members extending from the end of at least one tubular member for insertion into an adjacently disposed tubular member on a vertically interconnected side wall whereby vertically adjacent side walls may be interconnected.
 3. The structure of claim 1 further including snap fastener elements on the upper and lower edges of said side walls whereby vertically adjacent members may be interconnected. 